The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-09-22

| every thing else she did, IN accordance
j with fixed system, changeless as the
] laws of the Medes and Persians. She
wanted him to regal 4 her as model /
housekeeper-to set her very high and
at last find her indispensable. Her re-
ward would come upon that day when
he asked her to be his housekeeper for
life. His hour must strike sooner or
later. His heart would demand its
right That school-boy love of which
he had told her when Desiree came to
live with thcm-this paternal liking for
the child of Hortcnse-were trilles
which gave her no uneasiness.
For tho first time since leaving the
patcrnal roof, Arnim had kept the
Christmas feast. Desiee, who had for
long weeks been full of secrets, pre-
pared the Christmas tree, laden with
Inexpensive gifts, most of them the
work of her skillful fingers.
When the doctor, with q warm pres
sure of the hand, and in voice
chokcd with emotion, tried to express
that gratitude for which words were
too poor, she said:
The thanks are all on my side.
You have given me home. Never,
since my mothers death, have ] been
so happy, so free from care, rs now.
Where shall l be ncxt Christmasp ]
often ask myself. | can not be so dis
tant from you that my thoughts will
not center in this dear refuge"
"God willing, you will be here,
Desircc," replied the doctor. "Your
studies arc only just begun"
Spring came earlier and more radi-
ant than ever, so thought teacher and
pupil. The garden threw off it's win
ter robe, and appeared fresh and fair
rs youthful beauty in her first ball
dress. The nightingalcs sang amid the
'wcrs, the syringas and lilacs poured
'th Intoxicating perfumes, the mar
clssus, with its great child-like eyes,
gazrd ont into the blossoming would.
Th" forests, clothed in tender groom,
wrl" vocal with bird songs; and the
! drn">y hum of butterflies and beetles,
seemingly drunken with the very de-
| light Of existence. When nature thus
! moved to her fair domain, who could
| -emain within four narrow walls?
The goal of Arnim's and DcSircc's
wanorrin%s was mostly that little rus
| tic temple on the hilltop which, with
lvNn's help, had been very prettily
| fitted up. Here Arnim often took his
| afternoon coffee or his glass of liuht
| wlnc--hcrc the two had their little sup
| pcrs, DcSircc acting rs hostess. Here
with her work in hand she sat in win
| ii,
her. The tangled trcsScs of the maid
en-hair, blcnt with the rich sprays of
the cypress. touched the luXurant hair
Of tho young girls head rs it bent over
her work, "r at some fine passage was
lifted that the bcaminm eyes might en-
press the delight for which words were
too poor
Arnim feared that Marianne might
| discover these littl" fCaStS, and abrupt
| ly end them. Absorbed in her own
| pursuits, she was not included in their
division of the day. He often gazc,i
down the path, for the short, rolrnd
figure in the large %ardcn-hat and the
dress carefully caught up that il might
escape the ground. But to his relief,
no Marianne ever came.
''DO You know what my mother al
ways called nlc?' asked Dcsircc one
day. as they walked slowly homcward.
'llow should know?"
'PHpWON that is French for hut
tcrilr. 1t would seem SO like old times
if You would call me by that name"
81 will, my child, since the name 50
well suits your brightness and mobil-
ity. But this CONSTANT scmblancc of
flight alarms me. Have you grown
tired of this place? Is it too lonely for
you? Does Marianne annoy YOU by
her rNactions? Tell ne frankly"
He paused and gazcd down upon the
airy figure in the pink dress She had
thrown of her light summer hat-thc
breeze waved back the curls from her
forehead.
"Unclc, how can you ask such ques-
tionsT' she cried, cxcitcdly. "You
must know that | would like to live
with you always. Pcrhaps," she
added, Il miSchievous smile displaying
the dimplc in pc" left chcck-"pcrhaps
Marianne will harry some day, and l
become your housckccpcr.
Marianne marry! Strange that the
thought had not before occurred to
her cousin.
"Why not?" he asked himself, as
they walked on. Greater miracles had
happened. Yes, in that event Papillon
should keep his house, and under her